Load bar
Also called: load lock, cargo bar, shoring bar, decking beam
A load bar is an adjustable steel or aluminum bar fixed across the inside of a trailer or container, either wedged between the walls or locked into wall track, to keep pallets from sliding during transit. Horizontal decking beams also let a second tier of pallets be carried.
In depth: How many pallets fit in a truck? 53 ft and 48 ft trailer counts
When a trailer is not full, loads can slide forward under braking or back when accelerating. Load bars block that movement at the rear of the load or between groups of pallets.
Types
| Type | How it holds |
|---|---|
| Friction load lock | Ratcheted or spring-loaded bar pressing against both side walls |
| Track bar | Ends lock into E-track or logistics track on the walls |
| Decking beam | Horizontal beam in wall track, carrying a second tier of pallets |
| Airbags (dunnage bags) | Inflated in gaps between pallets; an alternative to bars |
Why it matters for pallets
A load bar bears on the outer face of the last pallet row. Pallets need sound lead boards or blocks and a well-secured load (stretch wrap tied into the pallet) so the bar holds the whole unit, not just the top cases. Decking beams let FTL shipments of non-stackable loads use the trailer's height without stacking pallet on pallet.
On a spec sheet or RFQ
Load bars belong in the load plan, not the pallet spec. If the pallet design depends on them (for example non-stackable loads carried on decking beams), note it in the shipping requirements.
Common confusions
A load bar is not a pallet component. It stays with the trailer or shipper and is reused.
Related
- GlossaryFTL (full truckload)FTL (full truckload) is a shipment that uses a dedicated trailer from origin to destination, with no terminal handling. A 53 ft dry van takes 26 standard 48 × 40 in pallets loaded straight or 30 turned, single stacked, subject to the legal weight limit.
- GlossaryLTL (less-than-truckload)LTL (less-than-truckload) is freight too small to fill a trailer, shipped alongside other shippers' loads and moved through carrier terminals. It is priced by weight, distance, freight class and accessorial services, so pallet size and density affect the cost.
- GlossaryPallet positionA pallet position is the space for one pallet: a floor spot in a trailer or container, or a slot in a warehouse rack. Carriers and third-party logistics providers (3PLs) often count capacity and charge storage by pallet position.
- GuidesHow many pallets fit in a truck? 53 ft and 48 ft trailer countsA 53 ft dry van holds 26 standard 48 × 40 in pallets loaded straight (two across, 13 rows) or 30 loaded turned (15 rows), single stacked. Double stacking doubles that if the loads allow. A 48 ft trailer holds 22 to 24 straight or 28 turned. Weight often runs out first, at about 42,000 to 45,000 lb of cargo.
- GlossaryStretch wrapStretch wrap is a thin, elastic plastic film, usually linear low-density polyethylene, wound tightly around a unit load under tension. It holds the cases together and to the pallet so the load stays stable in handling and transit.
More in Loading and shipping
- GlossaryColumn stackingColumn stacking is a stacking pattern where every case sits directly on top of the case below, with corners and walls aligned through the full height of the load. It keeps the most compression strength but is less stable than interlocking.
- GlossaryCube utilizationCube utilization is the share of the available volume, in a pallet footprint up to its height limit, a trailer or a container, that is actually filled with product. It is usually expressed as a percentage.
- GlossaryFloor loadingFloor loading is shipping cases or bags stacked directly on the floor of a trailer or container, without pallets. It fits more product in the vehicle but must be loaded and unloaded by hand or with special equipment. The term is also used for the load a floor can bear per unit area.
- GlossaryFreight densityFreight density is the weight of a shipment divided by the volume it occupies, measured at its outside dimensions with the pallet included. In the US it is given in pounds per cubic foot (pcf) and is the main factor in most LTL freight classes.
- GlossaryInterlocking stackingInterlocking stacking is a stacking pattern where alternate layers are rotated or shifted so each case bridges the joints between cases in the layer below, like bricks in a wall. It ties the load together but reduces compression strength compared with column stacking.
- GlossaryLoad overhangLoad overhang is any part of a unit load that extends beyond the edges of the pallet's top deck. Unsupported case edges lose compression strength, get damaged in handling, and increase the measured size of the shipment.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 228 words.